Joe and Donell Jones deliver a Verzuz packed with R&B nostalgia!

Donell Jones and Joe took R&B fans on a trip back through the late ’90s and early 2000s with a highly anticipated Verzuz matchup filled with classics, surprise appearances plus plenty of debate over who came out on top.

Estelle helped get the night underway before the two R&B veterans stepped into the spotlight. From there, both artists worked their way through decades of familiar records, creating exactly the type of nostalgic atmosphere many fans had hoped for.

Jones had previously suggested that he viewed the occasion as more of a celebration than a traditional battle, giving both artists an opportunity to showcase the music that helped shape an era of R&B. He also had a few surprises ready, including bringing out 702 for a performance of their 1997 hit “Get It Together,” which Jones co-wrote. Joe responded by reminding everyone just how extensive his own catalogue is. “Don’t Wanna Be a Player,” “Missing You,” “The Love Scene” plus “I Wanna Know” all featured during his run, alongside Big Pun’s “Still Not a Player.” The selection gave Joe plenty of opportunities to revisit some of the defining records connected to his career.

One of the night’s biggest surprises arrived when 50 Cent joined Joe on stage for “Wanna Get To Know You.” The unexpected appearance provided another major throwback moment while bringing even more energy to the matchup. Jones certainly enjoyed strong moments of his own. “This Luv” came out ahead of Joe’s “Ride Wit U,” while “Where I Wanna Be” received 63 percent of the Complex community vote when matched against “Stutter.” Joe answered with an emphatic result of his own, with “What If A Woman?” earning 85 percent against Jones’ rendition of Usher’s “Think of You.”

Away from the scorecard, the live performances generated plenty of conversation across social media. Some viewers felt Joe delivered the stronger vocal performance on the night, while others were simply happy to see two respected R&B artists receive their flowers on such a big stage. Ultimately, Joe appeared to leave the evening with the advantage based on the community voting plus the wider reaction online.

However, the real winner was arguably the era of R&B both artists represented. Between the classics, songwriting history, surprise appearances and memorable performances, Joe versus Donell Jones delivered a Verzuz that gave longtime fans plenty to enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI7yPpG2JyM